RE: Brackman. I know all about him, but I’m not overly thrilling considering his limited track record (just 70 IP career at NC State). That said, I think there’s a better chance the Yanks will draft Jesus Christ than have Brackman fall all the way to 30.

Just goes to show you how much changes in baseball from day to day. I do love that the one thing I can tease Mike about from now until the end of eternity is also part of an historic moment in RAB history. We’ve come such a long way since then…

Most of what I said last year on our birthday still holds true. I still can’t believe so many people come to read what we write. I really can’t believe how many people comment, and how civil the discourse is compared to other similar outlets. To illustrate, I’ll share a story from the recent past.

February 7, 2009. I’m at my girlfriend’s goofing off on a Saturday morning while she sleeps in. My feed reader is empty, which is a shame, because it looks like RAB needs some content. Then Ben IMed me with the link: A-Rod had tested positive for steroids in 2003. Oh no. Here goes my Saturday, I thought. The comments are just going to get out of hand.

If you read through the thread, you’ll notice one of mine early on, a futile attempt to keep what I thought would be the warring sides at bay. Turns out, it was totally unnecessary. Only one comment required deletion, and anyone would have deleted it, and one commenter got warned for calling everyone who didn’t agree with him a phony. Even that one I could have let slide (but you know me, I can’t stand the “I’m right because I say so” mindset).

In short, you guys were awesome. You’ve always been awesome. I don’t know why I thought the comments section would be a problem for that thread. The comments rarely get out of hand, and that’s what I love most about this site. Our commenters, unlike commenters on many sites around the Internet, have not lost their empathy. It’s easier to lose than you think in the big anonymous world that is the Internet.

Today, we’d like to thank you: the readers, the commenters. You don’t have to come here. As the trolls are wont to say: There are a thousand other sites like this. Yet there aren’t. It’s not because of me or Mike or Ben, though. It’s because of you guys. So thanks for dropping by. Thank for participating. And thanks for helping us waste countless hours talking about the Yankees.

Oh, yeah, the 800 pound gorilla. This redesign has been in the works for a while. In fact, we were going to bring it live on Tuesday until we realized that today is our birthday. So we held off for a couple of days. There still might be some bugs, so bear with us as we tidy up. If you’ve got any remarks on the design, the comments is the place to do it.

F$%# the Post, I’m on a BLOG, muthaf$%#$!!!!
F#$% the DN, I read POSTS, muthaf#$%$!!!!
I’m on RAB with my BOYS, muthaf#$%$!!!!
This hit counter make NOISE, muthaf#$%$!!!!

http://thejoeyhshow.blogspot.com/ Joey H

Cheers brothers. Thanks so much for your contributions to my show and getting it out. I really owe a large part of it to RAB who really inspired me to go out there and do this. Thanks a bunch and many more years.

http://thejoeyhshow.blogspot.com/ Joey H

Oh yeah and the new logo is fucking great.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

For that, we have to thank Pete Mrisch. He did an amazing job with it.

Whitey14

Thanks for getting rid of the “Because we won’t tear down Yankee Stadium” tagline. Although I know in your hearts you won’t tear it down it was odd to continue seeing it there knowing that it unfortuanely will be torn down eventually. I am honestly sad about that. I never like to see historical places torn down, especially when they hold as much history as Yankee Stadium.

Also, thanks for letting a Red Sox “troll” like me continue to visit and post on a semi-regular basis. You guys do a fine job. I wish you had been born in Maine so you’d be blogging about the Red Sox instead and that is the best compliment I can pay you. Congrats on 2 years!

BTW, say hello to the other three non-idiot-douchebag Red Sox fans the next time the four of you get together for your monthly “The Four Non-Idiot-Douchebag Red Sox Fans Meeting and Tupperware Party.”

You guys are great.

Whitey14

We’ve moved on to “Pampered Chef”. There were enough odd sounds coming from the meeting room without us burping tupperware during the demos ;-)

Sadly, we’re down to three now as Jimmy ate one to many sausage subs outside the ball park. Poor bastard! His wife’s been awfully friendly since though so it’s not all bad!

http://www.workwithpete.com Pete

Glad you guys like the banner – it was a pleasure to do for one of my favorite sites!

http://www.julieandthecity.com Julie

Good job Pete. The banner rocks.

Joey

awesome job!

jim

i like the new layout

THU

congrats on two years, but please fix the ads.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

What do you mean fix them? What’s wrong with them?

http://thejoeyhshow.blogspot.com/ Joey H

I think the ads would be better off on the outside bar. but who cares what I think ;)

steve (different one)

What do you mean fix them? What’s wrong with them?

well, sometimes i am forced to look at a large picture of Ann Coulter when i came to the website with the sole purpose of NOT trying to swallow my own tongue so i don’t have to see something like that…but aside from that, they’re boffo!

For me at least the ads and stuff is grouped off to the right side forcing the main stuff to the left. Just makes it look a little unprofessional.

http://evilempire20.wordpress.com/ Ryan S.

Happy birthday, RAB. This really is the only blog where it can be more interesting to read what the commenters have to say than whats in the content of the article itself. That’s saying quite a bit with all the great reads you three put out. I literally just started a blog of my own and had to give you guys a shout out immediately. You guys will only get bigger as time passes, no doubt about it.

Neil

Wow. Quite a shock checking out the site for the 20th time today. Very sweet look. Crisp. Fresh. Love it.

http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I thought I was on the wrong site for a second.

http://thejoeyhshow.blogspot.com/ Joey H

I dig the new logo.

Tom Zig

I had a mini-freak out session. Congratulations RAB. This new look will take some getting used to, but it looks good.

Ben, Mike, Joe, please delete my ignorance with full apologies to Jamal who clearly took more time to read that post than I did!

yankees=warriors

I agree. Everything else is just perfect!

Joop

Woot! Congrats guys! Thanks for all the hard work and great content. You are quite the awesome.

Reggie C.

New web layout looks cool. The site looks more official in my non-pro opinion. Can’t wait to see the RAB community take it to new heights in the ’09 regular season !

Charles

I dig the new logo! Great Look!

The only issue is with the ad’s! They crowd right up along the blogs. Can’t exactly put my finger on why they are bugging me, but there is something distracting about them that never used to be there. Then again they are ad’s! If they aren’t distracting then they aren’t doing their job.

Congrats RAB!!! Got a tip about you guys about a year ago, and have been a daily reader ever since!

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.

This is something we will play with.

http://thebronxzoo.wordpress.com iYankees

I thought you guys got hacked for a second there.

Anyways, congrats Ben, Mike, Joe. You guys have a great site here with loyal readers (myself included) and it’s always fun whenever you link to one of my post’s. Good stuff.

http://thejoeyhshow.blogspot.com/ Joey H

How about some avatar pictures of yourselves on the side? I’m sure you’ll won’t quite have the.. I’ll put it nice, several “Under Jaws” like PeteAbe so it will be cool.

Love the new banner, happy birthday to my favorite Yankee weblog on the net!

http://www.mlbnotebook.com Zach Sanders

Like the new banner, and I won’t go into the ads because that has been beaten to death already.

Happy birthday to you

Thomas A. Anderson

Very nice redesign. I love the modular look of everything.
The only thing I would change is that I would have all of the sidebar modules that are on the right side of the page (e.g.Categories, Tags, Baseball Readings) on the left side of the page.

I think most websites that have modules like that have them on the left side of the page or split on each side. Might be a little disorienting for people to have it on the right side.

Other than that, I love it. I hope that this site’s traffic and community blows up even more. Congrats.

Rey22

Wow, had to double check I was in the right site for a moment.

Read this site everyday, love the blog. Never post, but I thought today it was worth the while. Congratulations and keep up the outstanding work!

Harry G

WOW!!! Really hit me when I checked in for the umpteenth and final time before dozing off and saw this… Abso-freakin’-lutely love the design…
It’s much easier and refreshing to read everything…
Really love the banner, the only thing missing, though, is a picture of Joba fist-pumping with Hank standing in the side smokin’ a pipe with a graphic depicting him thinking, “I told them idiots the kid is a starter! He ain’t no Beckett! He’s better than Beckett!” next to it… But that would probably be in the overdone department…
Anyway, love the blog…er…site, and this will only make me come back for more…

Mike, Joe, Ben: You done good.

http://bigbluepinstripes.blogspot.com/ LB

Wow, this site looks great! Happy birthday.

Stryker

i fucking love the new design.. only problem for me is that the content isnt in the middle of the page (at least not for me). i kinda have to divert my eyes to the left side of the site – kinda makes it awkward to read IMO.

whozat

I tend to agree, though that might just be because I spend all day staring at the gmail interface, which has most of the navigation/tags on the left, and just some auxiliary nav stuff on the right.

http://statspeak.net dan

It’ll take some getting used to. Congrats guys.

leblanc

Snazzy layout, classy post.

southernyankfan

i have only been to one yankees game it was around 96 i think. i was very young but my mom grew up in new york and was a big yankees fan because of my grandfather. Sadly i never got to a game with him because he passed when i was a baby. but ever since my mom bought plane tickets and game tickets just so i could go to yankee stadium and see the promise land of baseball, as my grandfather used to call it, i have loved the yankees. i got to see Ken Griffey jr. hit a homer in yankee stadium when i was very young. it is one of the best memories of my life. this blog is the best one i read and i thank you for it. it makes me think of the best memory of my life every time i read it. after katrina and losing my home sports was one thing that i could always escape to. i wish this would have been around then.

Fair enough. Did the link to your site go away or something? I need to buy some tickets to some games this year, I’d like to see your prices/packages.

mko

This is the best blog around. You guys update it really often and with insightful posts that often are in line with my own opinions.

The community is great and I think the threaded comments help to get good and interesting discussions going.

I hope the design is the only thing that changes – forever ;-)

Thanks to everyone.

Kelvin

Great great site, Great new design. Happy 2nd birthday RAB! Have been a reader since you started, keep up the awesome work guys. RAB is one of the best, if not THE best, Yankee blog right now.

Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

Love ya back, guys. Best Yankee blog on the net.

Greg G.

Congrats, gents, on your 2nd birthday, and thanks for putting together a terrific blog (the first – and sometimes only – one I check for Yankees info).

The design and logo look great!

Ham Fighters

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! the new digs look great!

i qualify as a long time reader but this is my first time adding a comment.

thank you guys for all the excellent news and insight, it has become an indispensible part of my day,

keep up the GREAT work!
(i heard there was gonna be cake…)

steve (different one)

hooray! the dregs of LoHud come to RAB!

TurnTwo

happy bday RAB. love the site for the content and teh commentary from the fans that follow.

have to be honest… dont dig the new layout. but i guess i’ll get used to it.

idk how to describe it… seems like everything is too big.

Mike Pop

Your posts are more for the intelligent baseball fans, that’s what we are. ;)

Yankeegirl49

WTG guys, Happy Birthday!
I have been reading for about a year, just started posting. I have to say that most of the readers/posters here are some of the more intelligent ones I have come across on blogs and forums.
Keep up the good work guys!

RobC

Congradulations and happy birthday.
I stumbled across RAB some time last season and now its about the only Yankees site I read unless you link or reference another site.

I think I like the old format better but give me a few days with this one.
Any chance of getting spell check for the comments?

pat

Andrew Brackman and Melvin Croussett will forever be inextricably linked to RAB.

for you “losers” the trick is to marry a beautiful woman (who has a cannon arm) before you start reading RAB!

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.

Preferably a lefty, too.

John

nice site and work guys

YankeeBaseball2009

This is one of the best sites I’ve ever been on and it just happens to talk about my team. I like the aggregation of other sites but not a constant flow of garbage. You don’t link to every single thing out there, just the really cool and interesting.

I like the differences among the mods too. A good mix.

I used to read about 5 sites but now I only read RAB.

YankeeBaseball2009

BTW Happy Birthday!

A.D.

Congrats on the new birthday, great site, have turned several of my friends onto it over the course of the last few months.

Joe Z

On the contrary, Mike, Ben and Joe – thank you. It’s truly a pleasure to be able to rely on one outlet for the most thoughtful and insightful news tracking, analysis and musings. It has enriched my experience as a Yankee fan.

Any thought to live blogging a game or two this season? Could be a great spin on your earlier idea of MLB.tv opening up their radio feeds to fan commentary.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.

I’d love to live-blog from the Stadium, but at the old Stadium there was a no laptops rule. They supposedly have Wi-Fi in the new Stadium, but I’m not sure if that’s just for mobile devices or if they’re letting people bring in laptops.

Andy In Sunny Daytona

Love the new look. There’s so much room in here! It feels like I could run around here for hours.

jsbrendog

you and mcsorleys having your birthdays in the same week. now i will go there and read your site while drinking copious amounts of “dark” cause we all know anyone who goes to mcsorley’s and orders “light” better be a lady

well played gentleman. this is my #1 site.

http://www.yanksblog.com Patrick

Congrats guys, on the birthday and redesign.

Patrick

MikeD

Perhaps it’s just a matter of getting used to it but I really don’t like the new theme. I always really liked the arial shot of the stadium and the clean layout.

UWS

Happy Birthday, RAB! You have been responsible for many a wasted hour at work, especially during Mike’s chats. Here’s to many more!

The site redesign will take some getting used to, but the banner is awesome. One request: can you make the links in people’s names and posts a little brighter blue? I don’t know if it’s a function of my crappy monitor, but I can barely see the color difference from black…

Patrick T

Just want to second the congratulations and the positive review of the new design. Only been here since May-ish, but you guys are far and away the best baseball fan blog out there. KUTGW.

http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

Wow, I absolutely love the new look, guys. Congrats on the “birthday” and please, keep up the fantastic work.

– Add something about using the reply button and explain what the gold and silver boxes mean (for the newbies). Also, is it possible to put the box next to the reply button (instead of floating out in the middle of nothingness)? Just to make things look more streamlined. Also, I’d move Commenting Guidelines over to the first box left of the About tab. My order would be: Home, About, Commenting Guidelines, Privacy Policy, Archives, RAB’s Guide to Stats, Org. Depth Chart, and 2009 Draft Order.
– Is it me, or is the font size bigger?
– Under the Guide to Stats, Joe, it appears the article is written by you: “(and by “we” I mean Ben and me; Mike doesn’t believe in this VooDoo bullshit)”, but you never actually say your name or sign the article. Just a editorial nitpick. Also, we’ve gotta add wOBA, wRAA, FIP, UZR/150, and ARM in there (and possibly K/100 instead of K/9, although that one is debatable). And, links/primers to sites like B-R.com, Fangraphs, and the Baseball Cube would be good additions too.
– Add the year back to the bottom of the date boxes on the posts, please. And, possibly change the gold and silver boxes to red and white (to better fit the color scheme of the Yankees).

Congrats guys! You put so much into this site and it shows. Every time I visit, there is something new to read, which is why you have such a devoted and educated audience. I love the new look!

RAB happy hour or game-watching night soon?

Joey

Congrats guys, you’re still the best. God was I a kiss ass on your 1 year anniversary post… Still here, not commenting much anymore, we have tsjc, the steves, UWS, jsbrendog, manimal, Andy, etc… to entertain, and the fact that I rarely add anything substantive (like now), but I still check the site 15+ times a day. Only thing that’s changed from last years post was I don’t read Pete too much anymore, and since Shyster went to the HBT I haven’t read him much.

Keep up the great work, and nice new banner! It’ll take me a few days to get used to the new layout though. But thanks for all the days killed with intelligent Yankees talk.

Elle

Your redesign looks great! I don’t comment much, but I agree that your commenters are fantastic. When compared with most commenters on sports blogs, yours are well-spoken (-written), respectful, interesting, and on topic. I applaud whatever you’ve done to develop this community.

http://liberalmusings.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

Sorry that I’m coming a bit late to the party, but happy birthday to the best Yankees blog out there! You guys’ work inspired me to start blogging myself, and your work is truly great. Love the new design btw.